venus Report post Posted October 14, 2013 Hi, Could anyone tell me what I have to do to request a SA. I am going to apply in my own right but don't know what I should say or how to write ? I have seen some templates for letters but still not sure what I should add to it. Should I also include reports from professionals, iep's etc. Thanks in advance. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cathcart3303 Report post Posted October 14, 2013 Hi. I sent a standard letter which I found on the A>C>E website, Advisory Centre for Education. I kept it basic and then sent further evidence when requested. One note of caution is check with the LA (if you can) who you should address it to and send it recorded delivery. I only found out after enquiring after 5 weeks it had gone to the wrong department! They do not know how to pass things over. There is a timeline for responding to your request which you can also find on ACE website. Info I included was that my son had been on School Action and School Action plus but this had not enabled him to attend school and further assessment of his SEN was needed. Hope this helps. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sally44 Report post Posted October 14, 2013 This is a link to the ipsea.org website and their model letter. http://www.ipsea.org.uk/What-you-need-to-know/Common-problems.aspx#RequestingAssessment If you have IEPs and targets that have not been met, or progress has not been made then also include them. If you already have reports from professionals [are they LA/NHS ones or independent ones], you can include them. As part of the Statutory Assessment process the LA is supposed to contact any professional relevent such as EP, SALT etc. Is the SALT seeing your child, or the OT, Paediatrician, Clinical Psychology etc? Also how old is your child. Also download a copy of the SEN Code of Practice. That is full of information about how the process works and what to do and what to expect and what the LA should do too. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
venus Report post Posted October 14, 2013 He is twelve , has been out of school through anxiety for the last year. He see a pyschiatrist for medication, pyschologist would do cbt but he is selective mute and can't talk to them. He sees a pead every few months. He has no SALT or OT. Thank you, Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bed32 Report post Posted October 15, 2013 I have to ask what on earth his school is doing that they haven't already requested Statutory Assessment. As others have said, requesting it is very simple - and no point doing more than the very basic letter at this stage because you will be asked for your input as part of the process. It is worth at the same time discussing this with your school and any other professionals who have been involved, so they are aware of what is going on. If you get them on your side it is likely to go much better. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sally44 Report post Posted October 19, 2013 Do you have a particular school, type of school in mind? The reason the school/LA have not done this is because it is quite obvious that he is not going to cope mainstream, and therefore the alternative is expensive independent school. Ask your local authority for their list of secondary mainstream, approved, non-approved, special and independent schools. That will give you a list of schools they currently use. There might be one suitable in that list. Do not look at or agree an emotional/behavioural school. That is not ASD specific. It is for children who have been neglected or abused and that is the root cause of their issues. Your son's needs are due to an autistic spectrum disorder and anxiety. That needs totally different type of school, specialist teaching, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and input from a clinical pscyhologist or similar. Whereabouts in the UK are you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sally44 Report post Posted October 19, 2013 How is he being educated at the moment? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites